Proposed Bill Could Revise Alimony, Child Custody Laws in Florida

Proposed Bill Could Revise Alimony, Child Custody Laws in Florida

Posted By
Dean Kantaras

Florida State Sen. Tom Lee (R-Brandon) recently introduced Senate Bill
250, entitled “Family Law Reform.” If the bill is passed,
it would present some significant changes to the child time-sharing statutes
in the state and could set a guideline that divorced families have a 50/50
time-sharing split unless challenged.

This aspect of the bill has come under criticism from various state coalitions,
including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Florida Breastfeeding
Clinic, which comprises clinical experts in the fields of obstetrics,
pediatrics and lactation. Critics say that by presuming a 50/50 split,
a breastfeeding mother’s ability to provide her child with food
could be compromised — and that very young children need to spend
a certain amount of time with their mothers before a more “even”
time split can begin. Lawmakers argue equal time-sharing by both parents
should be considered to be in the best interest of the child.

Affects on spousal support

The bill also could impact certain aspects of alimony and require courts
throughout Florida to make specific findings before they issue a ruling
on spousal support requests. Lawmakers have been attempting to revise
the state’s alimony laws for several years, with the most recent
attempt failing this past spring after much public debate. This latest
bill would not represent the same sort of full overhaul the bill in the
spring did, but it would be at least a first step toward possible additional
reforms going forward.

To learn more about child custody, visitation and alimony laws in Florida,
contact the knowledgeable Tampa Bay family law attorneys at the Law Office
of K. Dean Kantaras.